Lithium Niobate Microtubes within Ordered Macroporous Silicon by Templated Thermolysis of a Single Source Precursor

Lithium niobate microtubes were prepared by wetting ordered macroporous silicon with a solution of a single source precursor and subsequent thermolysis. The silicon lattice is distorted upon the conversion, and in the presence of oxygen quartz is also formed. Etching the template reveals released LiNbO3 tubes with aspect ratios up to 100, corresponding to those of the template pores.